Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy Forced Out of Office, as Pedro Sánchez Replaces him

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has been forced out of office by a no-confidence vote in parliament. Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez, who filed the motion after Mr Rajoy’s party was implicated in a corruption scandal, will become prime minister. “We’re going to sign a new page in the history of democracy in our country,” Mr Sánchez said ahead of Friday’s vote.

Pedro Sanchez smiling after being announced as the replacement for Mariano Rajoy

Mr Rajoy is the first prime minister in modern Spanish history to be defeated in a no-confidence motion. The leader of the conservative People’s Party has been prime minister since 2011.

During the second day of debate on Friday, Mr Rajoy admitted facing defeat and told MPs that it has been “an honour to leave a better Spain than I found”. Mr Sánchez secured a majority in the vote after gaining support from various smaller parties, including the Basque Nationalist Party – 180 MPs backed the motion, 169 voted against, with one abstention.